Back in 2009, AZ had the 9th highest rate of suicide in the U.S. In that year 1,060 Arizonans took their own lives- so it’s easy to see why suicide prevention is an agency priority and is featured in our Strategic Map as a Winnable Battle. Since we’re responsible for the state’s behavioral health system- [...]
In September I blogged about how we and Maricopa County Public Health entered into a partnership with the Arizona Small Business Association and Viridian Health Management to train Arizona employers on the implementation of worksite wellness. I’m happy to share with you that the Healthy Arizona Worksites program has launched. The purpose of the Healthy [...]
We all need to take care of both our physical and behavioral health needs in order to be healthy. The mind and body aren't separated- and neither should the health-care delivery system- especially for folks with a serious mental illness. Folks with a serious mental illness die more than 25 years earlier than the general [...]
Cooler temperatures have many people looking for new adventures, even in the high country. Cycling is fun for the entire family, but it’s important to be as safe as possible. Knowing the rules of the road is important, but so is personal protection – like helmets. Injuries to the head are the most common among [...]
We’re happy to announce that we’re officially adopting four evidence-based practice models endorsed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) including Assertive Community Treatment (ACT); Supported Employment; Permanent Supportive Housing; and Consumer-Operated Services. We’re adopting these evidence-based best practice models because they resonate with our core commitment to a system of care [...]
Registered Dietitians are on the front lines of our battle against obesity. They work everyday to help people understand the importance of balancing diet and exercise - not necessarily an easy task in this junk-food, drive-thru world. Some of them are really good at it - including our own Adrienne Udarbe and Maricopa County's Trudes Rodriquez. The Arizona Academy of [...]
Our Request For Purchase (otherwise known as RFP) Core Team (Bob Sorce, Victoria Navarra, Teresita Oaks, and Chris Leavitt) and our entire cast of characters has been doing a full court press for the last 6 months to put together the Scope of Work that we’ll use when we go out for bid for the massive behavioral health services [...]
Last year our Agency pulled through big-time during our bottled water drive- collecting and donating 68,000 bottles of water for thirsty homeless folks. This month we’re having our 2nd annual Water Challenge with a goal of 75,000 bottles by the end of June. If we meet the goal of 75,000 bottles collected in June, we’ll all get [...]
There’s an old tale about a Texas “Sharpshooter” that pulls his pistol out of his holster and shoots at the broad side of a barn pretty much at random without aiming. Then he goes up to the barn with a paintbrush and draws a circle around the bullet holes and says: “See, I have perfect [...]
The Governor and I and the plaintiffs in the 1981 Arnold v. Sarn lawsuit signed a landmark agreement today which will last 2 years (pending the court’s approval). Today’s agreement outlines objectives for supported care and services for folks with a serious mental illness. Over the next couple of years we’ll work together with the [...]
